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The season you had been waiting for is finally here – the most rejoicing monsoons! It is here to help us recover from the treacherous summer heat. We look forward to munching on snacks like pakoras, samosas and kachoris, but with the fluctuating seasonal changes, comes the chances of catching the flu or cold. While we won’t mind sneezing and blowing our nose through the season, expecting mothers can’t compromise their babies’ health over monsoon food cravings. And unfortunately, with lower immunity, pregnant women are more susceptible to illness and infections. But worry not, we are here to take you through some healthy food habits that will take care of your cravings and your babies’ well-being. Read on to know them all.
1. Avoid Junk Food Or Street Food
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The cozy weather might lure you to try the delicious food spread out in the stalls, but don’t! Pregnant women are advised to avoid street or junk food at all costs. The weather increases the bacterial growth in the atmosphere and hence lowers your immunity. Choose homemade bhelpuri or a bowl of salted, cooked maize as an alternative for your untimely monsoon food cravings.
2. Eliminate Raw Vegetables From The Diet
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Vegetables should be cooked properly, especially if they are going to be given to a woman during her pregnancy. Raw veggies contain enzymes that may produce unexpected reactions in your body (1). You should avoid vegetables like mushrooms, cabbage, and cauliflower since they could be infected with bacteria or have worms. Fruits with high moisture content are also vulnerable to contamination since the moisture encourages bacterial growth (2). Make sure you wash your fruits and salads thoroughly and eat them as soon as they are prepared.
3. Keep Yourself Hydrated
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Staying hydrated is, in fact, the secret to good health. Maintaining a good water balance is done by drinking plenty of fluids. But processed or aerated juices are sour because they contain chemicals and preservatives that can harm an unborn baby (3) Additionally, drinking water aids in the removal of toxins from the body, and the minerals support a faster metabolism.
4. Eat Healthy And Fresh Food
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You should avoid consuming sliced fruit and juice from street vendors during monsoons. Instead, if you are craving fruits you should buy whole fruits, wash them thoroughly, chop them and eat as soon as possible, even at home. Fruits can be a healthy part of your rainy season diet, but you must ensure they are not contaminated by the surrounding germs.
5. Cook Non-Veg Meals Properly
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During the monsoon, you should take extra precautions when eating non-vegetarian meals, particularly seafood. Since poor meat preservation can cause various parasites and germs to grow inside the flesh, you should avoid food that you are not sure of. For pregnant women, meals must be appropriately prepared or barbecued as roasting destroys most bacteria.
6. Prefer Homemade Food Over Everything
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One season where bacteria breed more frequently and quickly spoil fresh vegetables is the monsoon. Therefore, it is recommended to steer clear of raw food, especially when pregnant. Instead, eating homemade food is the simplest method to avoid such toxins.
7. Try Monsoon Fruits
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The monsoons bring infectious diseases, allergies, and seasonal illnesses. But fruit intake during the rainy season might enhance your immune system and metabolism. You can choose seasonal fruits such as pomegranates, pears, and peaches.
8. Eat Bitter Veggies And Spices
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Bitter vegetables and spices are very beneficial to you during your pregnancy (4). In addition, to stave off seasonal infections, eat bitter gourd, fenugreek seeds, holy basil, and turmeric. All these have antioxidant properties that will help protect you from fevers and infections (5). Finally, spice up your meals with apple cider vinegar, ginger, and other allergy-busting ingredients.
9. Keep Yourself Clean To Stay Safe
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Wash your hands frequently, especially before preparing food or eating anything. Take a shower daily to wash away bacteria and other illnesses, and sanitize your home with a strong cleaner.
10. Take Vitamin C Supplements
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Your immunity benefits greatly from vitamin C. Citrus fruits are ignored by people as soon as the season changes, but this lowers their resistance to the rainy season. However, throughout pregnancy, vitamin C is essential because it promotes iron absorption and aids in the fight against illnesses.
This time of year may be quite pleasant for a pregnant woman if she stays indoors and enjoys lovely food and warm embraces from family and friends. Hopefully, our above-mentioned methods will allow you to enjoy every meal without fearing health problems. Take care!
